Poland
, Background to events in Poland (1980’s)
By 1980, everyday life was difficult in Poland
- Dramatic events = change
o Changes = “Solidarity”
o Leader was Lech Walesa
Electrician in shipyards of Gdansk
Nazi’s invaded Poland 1939
- Triggered WW2
- Poland = liberated in 1944/5
o Became a Satellite state
- Polish ≠ Soviet Union
o One party state w/ communist government ≠ elections
o Religious worship = difficult for Roman Catholic Church
o Bad economic situation
Food shortages, goods = short supply w/ Costs
o Few worker benefits
o Trade unions = banned
Impact of Solidarity on change in Poland
The part Solidarity played in making changes in Poland
- Success ≠ overnight
o Stimulated by government + economic problems over decade
- People ≠ buy necessities + queues at shops w/o rewards
- In July 1980, economic crisis = prices of good ≠ wages
o This was the “last straw” = huge strikes
- Lech Walesa got 17 000 workers to strike for freedom and justice
o Turned workers demands into campaign for solidarity
= Exist as a free trade union
Independent of Communist Party
- Support for solidarity grew, members = anti-Communist
, Background to events in Poland (1980’s)
By 1980, everyday life was difficult in Poland
- Dramatic events = change
o Changes = “Solidarity”
o Leader was Lech Walesa
Electrician in shipyards of Gdansk
Nazi’s invaded Poland 1939
- Triggered WW2
- Poland = liberated in 1944/5
o Became a Satellite state
- Polish ≠ Soviet Union
o One party state w/ communist government ≠ elections
o Religious worship = difficult for Roman Catholic Church
o Bad economic situation
Food shortages, goods = short supply w/ Costs
o Few worker benefits
o Trade unions = banned
Impact of Solidarity on change in Poland
The part Solidarity played in making changes in Poland
- Success ≠ overnight
o Stimulated by government + economic problems over decade
- People ≠ buy necessities + queues at shops w/o rewards
- In July 1980, economic crisis = prices of good ≠ wages
o This was the “last straw” = huge strikes
- Lech Walesa got 17 000 workers to strike for freedom and justice
o Turned workers demands into campaign for solidarity
= Exist as a free trade union
Independent of Communist Party
- Support for solidarity grew, members = anti-Communist
